Composition of matter for making fireproof and waterproof boards.



COATING R PLASTIC.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. LAPPEN, OF WINON A, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO UNION FIBRE COMPANY, OF WINONA, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

COMPOSITION OF MATTER FOR MAKING FIREPROOF AND WATERPROOF BOARDS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. LAPPEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vinona, in the county of Winona and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Composition of Matter for Making Fireproof and Vaterproof Boards, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to furnish an improved composition for the production of boards which will have characteristics which enable them to be effectively used as a substitute for wooden shingles and boards and slate tiles in the construction of buildings.

The materials which enter into the present composition of matter are all mineral, so that the resultant product is, of course, fire proof, and it is also practically water proof. In the prior art artificial stone shingle plates have been made out of hydraulic cement and asbestos mixed with water and compacted under heavy mechanical pressure, but such plates are too heavy and brittle and do not have the requisite flexibility to make them av satisfactory substitute for shingles. They have the characteristics of stone rather than of board, and therein differ from the boards produced by the composition which forms the subject of the present invention,

In making the boards I use the following ingredients combined in approximately the proportions stated, namely: cement preferably hvdraulic, about 600 pounds mine 1 woo!v a out 200 pounds, alum about i pounds, and pounds.

In preparing the composition the asbestos, when the same is used, is first put in water preferably asbestos about 30 andieaten until the fibers are separated.

The cement is next added, then the mineral wool, and lastly the alum. The mixture is then agitated just enough to mix the ingredients thoroughly together. It is best not to put the mineral wool into the liquid until after the asbestos fibers are thoroughly separated, because it is brittle and will be crumbled up like glass if subjected to the heating necessary to separate the asbestos fibers. If desired a suitable colorin agent can be added to the mixture, and tie minr a; r: o O

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application filed April 23, 1913. Serial No. 763,042.

mixture is su ec e 0 in or )ressimt in order to exuifth' water tiierelrom. It can be rolled o'f fo i ih'e'd into sheets of any desired thickness, or it can be built up in sheets upon an ordinary cardboard machine. After the water has all been expelled the sheets are allowed to set and, dr They can then be cut out or sawed into suitable lengths and sizes for shingles or boards.

I prefer to use asbestos as one of the ingredients as asbestos adds strength and toughness to the composition and prevents it from sticking to the rolls or other pressure instrumentalities.

The use of alum is essential as it brings the cement partlcles into intimate association with the mineral wool fibers and causes them to adhere to the fibers instead of settling to the bottom. The fibers thus become coated over with adherent cement, so that, as soon as the water is squeezed out of the mixture, the cement will set and bind the fibers together interiorly.- This makes it unnecessary to subject the sheets to external mechanical pressure, as is now done with the asbestos and cement plates, in order to force the cement into close association with the fibers.

On account of the character and intimate association of the ingredients, the boards thus formed are light and tough, and have sufficient flexibility and resiliency to allow them to be lapped and nailed to a wall or roof like shingles without breaking or clrackingh at the 1bend; illflld nails can be (riven t rou h tiem wit out 1e r1 lin of na'il'holes :i nd without danger of the nail; cracking, splitting, or chipping the board. The boards are particularly adapted to outside use as they do not disintegrate or deteriorate under exposure to the weather.

It will be understood that the proportions of the ingredients as hereinbefore stated can be varied within certain slight limits without materially changing the character of the product, but the best results are attained by using the ingredients in the proportions I separation of the asbestos fibers, and seven have given. parts of alum. 10

I claim as my invention: In testimony whereof I affix my signa- A composition of matter for making ture in presence of two witnesses. 5 fibrous fireproof boards consisting of thirty JAMES E. LAPPEN.

parts of separated asbestos fibers, six hun- Witnesses: dred parts of hydraulic cement, two hun- ARTHUR P. LOTHROP, dred parts of mineral wool added after the H. SWANSON.

cm:- of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the CommlssLner o! rate'ntl.

Washington, D. C. a 

